Australian Junior Joy for Harris and Katano

Ballarat, Australia: Australian Amelia Harris and Japan’s Kanichiro Katano emerged triumphant at the 2026 Australian Junior Amateur.

Playing in the event for the sixth and final time, Harris topped the standings among the girls, while Katano had the distinction of becoming the championship’s first winner from outside Australia and New Zealand.

Harris, 105th in the women’s World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR), and Katano, 342nd in the men’s standings, both produced stunning final-day comebacks at Ballarat Golf Club having begun the last round four shots off the pace in their respective divisions.

With a closing two-under 70, 17-year-old Harris posted a four-day aggregate of six-under 282, two strokes clear of second place New Zealander Teresa Wang (76).

For his part, Katano fired a brilliant six-under 66 to reach eight-under 280, finishing two ahead of runner-up Ryan Xie of New Zealand (71).

Victorian Harris, a member at Yarra Yarra Golf Club, said: “I can’t put it into words how happy I am. It’s always one I’ve dreamed of winning … especially to get it in my last year.”

The win marks Harris’s third consecutive title, following victories at the Rene Erichsen Salver and Keperra Bowl, and caps a standout start to 2026 that also included her first professional win at the Women’s NSW Open Regional Qualifier.

She credited her recent victories to her growing confidence, having also rallied from five shots back to win the Rene Erichsen Salver.

She said: “I enjoy the chase, so I had a lot of confidence in myself. Last year I struggled with my confidence … and golf is just mental, a lot of it. So having that confidence, I think that’s what’s helped me hit a lot of good scores.”

Katano, who tied for 14th at last year’s Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship in Dubai, said: “I was just focusing so much, on each shot, each hole. I can’t believe it. I played so well today and I’m really happy to win.”

A drama-filled final round unfolded in cold, wet and windy conditions, where resilience proved decisive as the winners etched their names alongside Major champions Adam Scott, Jason Day, Cameron Smith, Minjee Lee and Grace Kim.

Wang led the opening three rounds and appeared on track for the girls’ title, taking a four-shot lead into the final round over Harris and fellow-New Zealander Amy Tang.

Her advantage was trimmed to three after a one-over front nine, while Harris turned in even par, Tang falling out of contention with a four-over front nine on her way to a 78. Wang and Harris traded pars on 10 and 11 before the tournament turned at the par-four 12th, where a triple-bogey from Wang brought the scores level at four-under.

Harris remained composed and seized the outright lead with a birdie on 14, before adding another on 16 to extend her advantage to two shots. Both players parred the final two holes, sealing a long-awaited victory for Harris in her final year of eligibility.

Feiyu Xing shared third with Tang at two-over, while Constance Wang, Jordyn Deen and Olive Spitty finished two shots further back in a tie for fifth.

In the boys’ event, Katano, who is currently based in New Zealand and plays out of the Pakuranga Golf Club, started the final day tied sixth at two-under before producing his best round of the tournament.

Xie, who began the final day one shot off the lead, surged early with three straight birdies to reach eight-under and take control. He posted a three-under 33 front nine to lead by three, but momentum shifted on the back nine as he opened with two bogeys.

Katano was quick to capitalise, joining the lead with back-to-back birdies on 12 and 13 before taking the outright lead with a third straight on 14. A birdie on 18 set the seal on Katano’s win.

Cooper Moore, winner of last year’s Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation (APGC) Boys’ Junior championship, produced a strong title defence. The New Zealander finished tied for third at four-under alongside Australian Joey Eason.